Best Associate's in Elementary Education Programs in Ohio
All 3 Elementary Education associate's-level programs in Ohio, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.
An associate's in elementary education is a two-year transfer degree and the first step toward a bachelor's and an eventual Ohio teaching license, and Ohio has 3 accredited elementary education associate's programs to compare. This ranking scores every one on the outcomes that actually affect your return: graduation rate, in-state affordability, and selectivity, all pulled from the public federal IPEDS database. University of Cincinnati-Clermont College ranks first with a score of 73, on a 24 percent graduation rate.
Teaching assistants in Ohio earn a median of $35,920 a year according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, against a national median of $36,780. Each section below covers a specific decision point, cost and real ROI, Ohio licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Ohio on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
University of Cincinnati-Clermont College
73score- 24%Grad rate
- $5,903/yrIn-state tuition
- $13,135/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 9,479Undergrads
- 7Grads/yr
- Pre-Elementary Education, A.S. (UC transfer pathway)
- On-campus
About the programUniversity of Cincinnati Clermont College designs its Pre-Elementary Education associate degree as a transfer pathway rather than a finished teaching credential, giving students an affordable place to complete their freshman and sophomore coursework. Housed in the Social Sciences department, the plan points students toward UC's Clifton campus or Northern Kentucky University to finish the bachelor's degree that the program notes is the minimum requirement to become a licensed teacher. Even at this early stage, students get into schools, volunteering roughly 10 to 20 hours each semester alongside their classes, which lets them test the profession before committing to the full degree. That early exposure comes with practical requirements, including an annual background check of about $60. Instruction is delivered on campus, making it a grounded first step toward elementary teaching. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Ohio's 3 ranked associate's-level programs, at $5,903. A associate-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among teaching assistants in Ohio.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among Ohio programs at 24%, solid without being a standout. Cost only helps its case: at $5,903 in state, tuition runs below the Ohio median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
- 2
Gods Bible School and College
55score- 40%Grad rate
- $6,600/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 75%Admit rate
- 409Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
About the programGod's Bible School and College, a private nonprofit institution in Cincinnati, Ohio, offers a program in elementary education and teaching at the associate degree level. The associate program introduces students to elementary education, the field concerned with teaching children in the earlier grades of school, and stands among the college's education offerings. Among Ohio's 3 ranked associate's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 40%. A associate-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among teaching assistants in Ohio.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 40% of students graduate, top 1% among Ohio programs, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 75% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Tuition is middle of the road for Ohio programs at $6,600 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
- 3
University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College
23score- 16%Grad rate
- $6,370/yrIn-state tuition
- $15,168/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 7,787Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- Pre-Elementary Education
- On-campus
About the programUniversity of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College's Pre-Elementary Education is an Associate of Science built as a transfer pathway rather than a licensure credential on its own. It covers the first two years toward a bachelor's in Elementary Education, whether students continue at UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services or move to another four-year institution. What makes it more than coursework is early classroom time: students begin observing in schools soon after they start, gaining real exposure to teaching before they transfer. Instruction is delivered face to face on the suburban Cincinnati campus, keeping the experience personal and in person. For students aiming toward an elementary classroom, it is an affordable and grounded way to begin. A associate-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among teaching assistants in Ohio.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 16% the graduation rate trails the Ohio median, which caps how high it can climb. Tuition is middle of the road for Ohio programs at $6,370 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
Key facts about a associate's in Elementary Education in Ohio
- Ohio has 3 accredited associate's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- University of Cincinnati-Clermont College ranks first among elementary education associate's programs in Ohio with a score of 73, on a 24 percent graduation rate.
- University of Cincinnati-Clermont College is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Ohio, at $5,903 a year in-state tuition.
- Gods Bible School and College posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in Ohio, at 40 percent.
- Teaching assistants in Ohio earn a median of $35,920 a year (BLS), ranking Ohio 25 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- Ohio requires the OAE licensure exam, administered through State Board of Education of Ohio, Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, to earn a teaching license.
What a associate's in elementary education costs in Ohio (2026)
Published in-state tuition for a associate's in elementary education in Ohio runs from $5,903 to $6,600 a year across the 3 programs we rank, with a median of $6,370. The most affordable is University of Cincinnati-Clermont College at $5,903 a year. These are published sticker rates from IPEDS; most future teachers bring the net figure down with the Pell Grant, the federal TEACH Grant, and state teacher-preparation aid, so weigh net price, not the sticker.
Cost only means something next to completion. The elementary education programs ranked here average a 27 percent graduation rate, and a lower-priced program where fewer students finish is not necessarily the cheaper path to a degree. Compare tuition and graduation rate together above.
Sources: IPEDS tuition data
What teaching assistants earn in Ohio
Teaching assistants in Ohio earn a median of $35,920 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $36,780. That ranks Ohio 25 of 51 states and territories for teaching assistants pay. Nationally, pay for this occupation spans roughly $27,150 at the 10th percentile to $50,040 at the 90th, with a master's degree, years in the classroom, and the local district salary schedule driving the climb.
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 1 percent decline in teaching assistants employment nationally from 2024 to 2034, with about 170,400 openings a year as teachers retire or change careers. A associate's in elementary education in Ohio is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get an Ohio teaching license
An associate's in elementary education does not by itself qualify you for an Ohio teaching license. It is a two-year foundation that transfers into a bachelor's, which, with a supervised student-teaching placement and OAE (Ohio Assessments for Educators), leads to the Resident Educator License issued by State Board of Education of Ohio, Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness. Associate's graduates also qualify for teaching-assistant and paraprofessional roles in Ohio schools while they finish the bachelor's.
OAE is administered by Evaluation Systems of Pearson; Praxis is used only for certain pupil-services licenses. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.
Sources: Ohio educator certification, OAE exam
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Ohio
Pick a associate's in elementary education in Ohio that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Ohio Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward an Ohio teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Ohio.
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Frequently asked questions about a associate's in Elementary Education in Ohio
How many associate's in elementary education programs are in Ohio?
There are 3 accredited associate's in elementary education programs in Ohio in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
What is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Ohio?
University of Cincinnati-Clermont College is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Ohio, at $5,903 a year in in-state tuition.
How much do teaching assistants make in Ohio?
Teaching assistants in Ohio earn a median of $35,920 a year, according to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes259045.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics</a>, versus $36,780 nationally.
What exam do you need to teach in Ohio?
Ohio requires the OAE (Ohio Assessments for Educators) licensure exam, administered for State Board of Education of Ohio, Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness. See the <a href="https://www.oh.nesinc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">official exam page</a> for current test requirements.
Is a associate's in elementary education worth it in Ohio?
For most future teachers, yes. A associate's in elementary education in Ohio is the standard credential for an Ohio teaching license, and it leads to a median teaching assistants salary of $35,920 a year in Ohio. Compare graduation rate and net price above to find the best value in 2026.
These are the best associate's in elementary education programs in Ohio for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 3 associate's in elementary education in Ohio above by graduation rate, tuition, and selectivity, then open each program page to take the next step toward transferring into a bachelor's and a classroom career in Ohio.